Everyone knows baseball is as American as apple pie, but did you know that its history traces back further than the Civil War? It was officially invented in 1845, and rapidly became the national pastime we know and love.
Now, millions of people play baseball across the globe! If you’re one of them or would like to join their ranks, you know that the equipment you use is almost as important as the skills you have.
With that in mind, we put together this guide to picking a baseball glove! Read on to learn how to do it!
Anatomy of a Baseball Glove
There are a few key terms that describe the parts of a baseball glove. We’ll go through them briefly so you understand what we’re referring to when we talk about different aspects of performance and fit.
- Web: the webbing between the thumb and the index finger
- Palm: padding inside the leather and across the palm
- Heel: the very bottom edge of the glove
- Hinge: a hinge along the pinky side of the glove, allows it to open
- Lacing: the leather laces around the glove
Types of Baseball Gloves
There are a few different styles of glove, defined by the shapes of the web. First up is the basket shape. Basket shape webbing is a checkerboard weave that makes the glove easy to open, close, and hide the ball.
The trapeze style uses leather lacing to hold the webbing so it’s much looser and creates a deep pocket. A lot of outfielders use this type of webbing because it’s much easier to catch balls with. A modified trap is the same thing, but with a thick leather strip across the top to provide stability.
The H-web style is defined by its very loose weave with large square gaps in between. This allows for durability and flexibility while allowing dirt to flow out of the glove. H-web is a favorite of infielders as it’s perfect for catching field balls.
Choosing Baseball Gloves
You should consider three aspects when choosing baseball equipment: your position, fit, and style.
Based on your position, you can choose the right webbing style for your position. Besides the ones we listed above there are a few variations that you might find more comfortable.
For instance, if you’re looking for infield baseball gloves, you should be going with an H-web. You can also select a modified H-web, single post, dual bar, I-web, or cross style. As long as you keep your position in mind, you’ll be able to narrow your choices down so you can select the baseball gloves that work for you.
If you want a baseball glove that, well, fits like a glove, you’ll have to try it on. You want a glove that fits snuggly and isn’t too loose. Don’t forget that your leather will break in overtime so it’s best to choose one that’s ever so slightly too small.
Finally, you can choose a style or color that appeals to you!
Pick the Glove That’s Right for You
The baseball gear market is overflowing with options for your next glove, and it can be overwhelming to pick one if you don’t quite know what you’re looking for or what you like. With this guide, you should be able to sift through the baseball glove options to find the right glove for you and take your game to the next level!
If you enjoyed learning how to pick a baseball glove, we have lots more sports and lifestyle advice on our blog. Check it out today!
